Rory McIlroy leads in Dubai: 2021 DP World Tour Championship, Day One

Rory McIlroy continued his love affair with Jumeirah Golf Estates as he made the perfect start to his quest to win a first Rolex Series title at the 2021 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

In 10 appearances over the Earth Course, the Northern Irishman has two wins and five other top fives, with a worst finish of 20th.  Read more

From Sky Sports, by Ali Stafford:

Rory McIlroy moved into the early lead at the DP World Tour Championship, while Collin Morikawa made a strong start to his bid for Race to Dubai victory. 

McIlroy mixed eight birdies with a lone bogey on his way to an opening-round 65 at Jumeriah Golf Estates, lifting him to seven under and two ahead of Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Tapio Pulkkanen and last week's AVIV Dubai Championship winner Joachim B Hansen.  Read more

From the Belfast Telegraph, by Adam McKendry:

Rory McIlroy dazzled in the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship to storm into an early lead in Dubai after a sensational opening round at the Earth Course at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The World No.8 rode the momentum of an eagle on his second hole to go on and card six more birdies – one of which came at his opening hole, admittedly – and just one bogey in a superb seven-under 65.  Read more

From CBS Sports, by Kyle Porter:

When dropping a shot late on the front nine to go out in 31 is the worst part of your round, it's probably been a pretty good day. Rory McIlroy's only blemish in Round 1 of the DP World Tour Championship on the European Tour was a bogey at the ninth when he needed par for a 30 on the front, but he got that back early on the second nine and cruised home with a 7-under 65 to lead a group of three golfers by two in Dubai.  Read more

From European Tour, Day One Digest:

Rory ran riot, Collin was on track, we had hole outs and long putts galore and Tyrrell was typically forthright on day one of the 2021 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.  Read more